Programme
Day 1 / 20.05.2025
Congress Opening
09.00
Registration
09.30
Opening.
Olga Valciņa, founder of the Latvian oncological patient organization “Onkoalianse”
Olivér Várhelyi, European Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare (video address)
Edgars Rinkēvičs, President of Latvia
Zanda Lukaševiča-Kalniņa, Deputy Speaker of the Parliament, Latvia
Hosams Abu Meri, Minister of Health of the Republic of Latvia
Session 1: Policy Options for Equality in Cancer Treatment
10.00
INTRODUCTORY PRESENTATIONS
Inequalities in cancer patients in the EU characteristics.
Nicolò Matteo Luca Battisti, European Cancer Organization Inequalities Network
Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan on the political agenda of EU countries.
Ivars Ījabs, Latvian Member of the European Parliament, Deputy Head of the European Parliament’s Special Committee on Beating Cancer (BECA), Latvia
The social impact of health technologies in reducing inequalities in cancer care.
Dr Karla Hernández-Villafuerte, WifOR Institute, Germany
11.00
DISCUSSION
11.40
BREAK
Session 2: Innovation and research in cancer treatment
11.50
INTRODUCTORY PRESENTATIONS
Europe’s leading research projects in the field of cancer treatment.
Bogi Eliasen, Copenhagen Institute for Future Studies
The latest biotechnological discoveries and their role in personalised treatments.
Prof. Mārcis Leja, Director of the Institute of Clinical and Preventive Medicine of the University of Latvia
12.20
DISCUSSION
13.00
LUNCH BREAK
Session 3: The Cost of Cancer Treatment – How to Ensure Reasonable Prices for Patients?
13.45
INTRODUCTORY PRESENTATION
A value-based healthcare approach to increasing healthcare efficiency and reducing costs.
Zofia Das-Gupta, Senior Director of Outcomes Research, International Consortium of Health Result Measurements (ICHOM)
14.00
DISCUSSION
Session 4: How to ensure equal access to innovation for all patients
14.40
INTRODUCTORY PRESENTATION
Practical strategies for innovating and ensuring equal access to new medicines in Europe.
Adam Sohn, Head of Patient Engagement Solutions, IQVIA, US
14.55
DISCUSSION
15.30
CLOSING NOTE AND CONCLUSIONS
Andris Bērziņš, Chairman of the Committee on Social and Labour Affairs, Parliament of Latvia
Olga Valciņa, founder of the Latvian oncological patient organization “Onkoalianse”
Day 2 / 21.05.2025
PATIENTS FORUM - closed session
09.00
Patients’ NGO discussion: patient advocacy strategies and outcomes. Exchange of experiences.
11.00
Patients’ NGO discussion: patient advocacy strategies and outcomes. Exchange of experiences.
13.00
Closing note
